That alone should be a good enough reason to read it.
It’s one of those books that you can open anywhere and will with you a shot of wisdom.
Also, after reading this book you can clearly tell that other authors are pulling from it as a source. Many others use it as inspiration and as a starting point.
Flow: 5/5
Actionability: 4/5
Mindset: 5/5
Some of My Highlights:
“If then you desire (aim at) such great things, remember that you must not (attempt to) lay hold of them with a small effort; but you must leave alone some things entirely, and postpone others for the present.”
“Take away then aversion from all things which are not in our power, and transfer it to the things contrary to nature which are in our power.”
“For it is better to die of hunger and so to be released from grief and fear than to live in abundance with perturbation.”
“Begin then from little things. Is the oil spilled? Is a little wine stolen? Say on the occasion, at such price is sold freedom from perturbation; at such price is sold tranquility, but nothing is got for nothing.”
“Whoever then wishes to be free, let him neither wish for anything nor avoid anything which depends on others: if he does not observe this rule, he must be a slave.”
“For this is your duty, to act well the part that is given to you; but to select the part, belongs to another.”
“For whatever of these things results, it is in my power to derive benefit from it.”
“If you desire philosophy, prepare yourself from the beginning to be ridiculed, to expect that many will sneer at you, and say, He has all at once returned to us as a philosopher; and whence does he get this supercilious look for us?”
“And how will you be nobody nowhere, when you ought to be somebody in those things only which are in your power, in which indeed it is permitted to you to be a man of the greatest worth?”
“And who can give to another what he has not himself?”
“You will be unjust and insatiable, if you do not part with the price, in return for which those things are sold, and if you wish to obtain them for nothing.”
“Immediately prescribe some character and some form to yourself, which you shall observe both when you are alone and when you meet with men.”
“And let silence be the general rule, or let only what is necessary be sad, and in few words.”
“Avoid banquets which are given by strangers and by ignorant persons.”
“Do not however be disagreeable to those who indulge in these pleasures, or reprove them; and do not often boast that you do not indulge in them yourself.”
“…but if there is not an opportunity, by your silence at least, and blushing and expression of dissatisfaction by your countenance, show plainly that you are displeased at such talk.”
“But these things should be done as subordinate things: and let all your care be directed to the mind.”
“But you are neither possession nor speech.”
“For example, at a banquet do not say how a man ought to eat, but eat as you ought to eat.”
“Accordingly if any conversation should arise among uninterested persons about any theorem, generally be silent; for there is great danger that you will immediately vomit up what you have not digested.”
“If then you wish to live well, do not seek to be commended for profuse expenditure